February 19-20 – Dark valley

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken m? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?” - Psalm 22:1

In times of trouble most of us will be able to identify with David and this cry. We too cry out to God....and He seems silent, far.far away. Every feeling in our bodies tells us He seems to have abandoned us, but our faith insists that could never be, He would never do such a thing – He said so, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” - Deuteronomy 31:6. Key words, Feeling, and faith.

A.W. Tozer writing on the roles of feelings and faith describes feelings as “The play of emotion over the will, a kind of musical accompaniment to the business of living, and while it is indeed most enjoyable to have a band play as we march....it is by no means indispensable. We can work and walk without music and if we have true faith we can walk with God without feeling.”

I particularly like Psalm 23:4 - “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” No focus on feelings about the dark valley and it's shadows. The psalmists faith looks through the valley, past the darkness, and with trust and confidence anticipates the other side.

God doesn't abandon us in the silence, He is teaching us to have true faith.....a faith unswayed by emotion. Sometimes our walk with Him has to be without the pleasue of music to enable and encourage our faith to deepen. When the music returns it sounds all the sweeter.

The valley is a place to go through, God doesn't intend us to stay there.

“Living by Faith” (LIVE) is the music choice today. Click on the picture to listen.

February 18 – The way

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it””- Isaiah 30:21

I'm fascinated by maps. I don't have a SatNav, so on strange ground I rely on the good, old-fashioned map. Maps will lead you to new and exciting places – especially when you misread it and find you are lost in unknown territory – some of my best discoveries and interesting days out have been found that way, but it was always good when the correct direction was found and I knew how to get there. Most important of all, a map allows me to mark off my progress, and helps me to see how much further I still have to go.

Thinking about it, this is just like our walk with Jesus because His Word is just like a map. We can pick a verse, any verse, and we are on our way to new exotic places. God gives us instructions and signposts along the way....when you come to the crossroads – and you will - follow the narrow road. Don't be put off by bends, steep climbs, and valleys, stay on the narrow road and keep focus on your destination. He says, “I am the Way,” follow Him. Keep His light in sight, and ignore the flashing lights at each junction, luring you to make a detour onto the highway.

Still unsure of your directions? Re-read the above verse. Isaiah 30:21 reads just like a roadmap.

Our destination at times seems a long way off, but every mile towards it is an adventure of our lifetime – can it be any other with heaven as our goal. Just keep your eye on the Way. That's all the direction you need.

Our music today is Steve Greene (LIVE) singing “Find us Faithful.” Click on the picture to listen.

⁵¹ So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”

⁵² Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. Mark 10:50-52

A while back I was told continually wearing glasses was bad for the eyes. The reason given was that apparently your eyes would become reliant on them and your natural lenses would cease doing their job. My eyes were perfectly fine at the time, 20/20 vision, and so whilst I listened to this ‘conspiracy’ theory I had no reason to either question it or put it to the test because it did not affect me.

That was before I became a spectacle wearer. Gradually and almost imperceptibly my eyes slowly refused to see the things they used to. However, the first time my glasses went on, it was as if the world came back into focus. It also gave me a chance to test the theory of no compliance to see if my natural lenses were indeed just being lazy.

Glasses on. Glasses off. Re-focus. My conclusions? Of course the theory was nonsense. My eyes needed the extra help. The world had not gone out of focus but my eyes had.

Like eyesight, almost imperceptibly your spiritual life can go out of focus. But unlike your eyes which will gradually age and need the support of stronger props, a renewed and sustained walk with Jesus can take you to where you were before and much further.

Today, why don’t you pray for someone, if not for yourself, to refocus their relationship with Jesus? A focussed Christian will always have the clearest vision.

For our music today, Steve Camp sings ‘Jesus drawing me’. Click on the picture to listen.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.¹¹ “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-12

Does the key text refer to you? I have often read this text and thought about the early Christians who lost their life for their faith like Stephen, the martyr, when he was stoned. I also have thought about end time events when I would have to stand up for my faith. I mean, to be honest, I would not really say that I have endured much persecution as a result of being a Christian. Surly these things are to come in religious tolerant Britain? But maybe they are already here.

I came across this story last week which made me stop and think. Dan Walker, a football presenter is quoted as saying that he does not want to be "persecuted" for being a devout Christian and wants to be able to get on with his job.

Naively I hadn’t thought much about Sunday worshippers being the subject of Christian persecution, but it has made me look at the way I keep the Sabbath.  

Do you, do we do all we can to keep God’s special day holy? Think about it.

The song today is ‘Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy’. Click on the picture to listen.

February 12-13 - Smiles

When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them. Job 29:24 NIV

Today began as one of those days.

Visitors were due, cleaning and shopping had to be done, and the additional list of to-do's was long – I really could have done without the visitors. The breakfast dishes were in the sink, unwashed, books and papers covered the tables in the sitting room and kitchen, and the computer was pinging periodically to remind me there was a blog to finish, and in between the telephone went into over-drive. I'd just got up, but oh, how I wished I could crawl back into bed. But I pushed through. I washed the dishes, cleaned the toilet, and stacked the books and papers in neat piles before the visitors arrived.

“There must be more to life than this,” I thought.

Just then, going into the sitting room, my friend's three-year-old daughter looked up at me and did something that made my day.

She smiled (an upside-down frown). She was happy. She was singing along with Cbeebies. Her grin instantly melted my cares away – even though I knew that after they had left, I would have the added task of cleaning little nose and finger marks from the doors and mirror in the hall. Suddenly, things seemed tolerable and I enjoyed my day rather than dreading it . Little moments like that make life worth it. The best things in life come in the form of grins or the contagious laughter of a child. These are the simple moments that make life a little more bearable.

It’s so easy to respond to life with exhaustion and weariness. But responding to life with a smile can change our perspective. Take Job for instance. Of all people he had more reason than most to be outraged at his circumstances. But Job chose to respond differently.

Job 29:24 says,

When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them.

Michelle S. Lazurek writes: 'Job’s smile not only allowed him to choose joy in spite of his circumstances, it allowed him to shine God’s light so that others could see Him more clearly.

Responding to life with drudgery is easy. Responding to life with a smile can change someone’s life; maybe even yours. Give it a try today and see what happens.'

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength” - Proverbs 17:22 NLT

“Give the World a Smile” (LIVE) our music. Click on the picture to listen.

February 11 - God’s Bigger Picture

“I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News” (Philippians 1:12, NLT).

WOW, what a statement!! When I read this my mind did an automatic reverse over the past years, and all the events of my life – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Can I say in all honesty that no matter what, I have 'helped to spread the Good News?' Have I always looked at problems, difficulties, and disappointments from God's viewpoint? Or, have I allowed myself to become discouraged, frustrated, and unhappy? Did I spend those years working out plans for my future?

As we inevitably discover, God has a plan for all our lives – as the apostle Paul found out on the road to Damascus. After meeting Christ on that road he had only one dream....to preach the Gospel in Rome. At the time, Rome was regarded as the centre of the universe, the most important city in the world.

But God had other ideas – other plans for Paul. Instead of sending Paul to Rome to preach crusades, God made him a royal prisoner of Caesar, who was at that time Nero. Nero was a real piece of work - as wicked and bad as anyone could get.

Royal prisoners were treated somewhat differently to the Joe Blogs of the day. Paul was chained to a royal guard 24 hours a day for two years, and the guard was changed every four hours. Over two years in prison, he witnessed to 4,380 guards. Who’s the real prisoner here? Who had the captive audience? What an opporunity, God's plan all along, and Paul grasped it with both hands.

Two incredible results came from this: First - within two years, some of Nero’s own family become believers because of Paul’s witness in the royal court in Rome (Philippians 4).

Secondly, Paul was used to being constantly on the move, from town to town, but in prison, he was shackled and forced to be still. Yes, his body was confined, but his mind had wings and, as a result, wrote most of the New Testament.

I wonder, which had a bigger impact: his preaching in the Colosseum or the books he wrote, such as Romans, First and Second Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians? These seven books have revealed Jesus to millions of people over the years?

Paul knew that God had a bigger plan, and he was happy to follow wherever God led him.

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” - Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)

Any time we have a problem that’s getting us down, we need to do what Paul did — learn to see it from God’s perspective. Ask, “What is God doing here? What’s the bigger picture? What’s the bigger perspective?” Then, like Paul, we’ll face the problem and way ahead, in faith and trust. That, no matter what happens to us here, we have helped to spread the Good News.

(Acknowledgements Rick Warren)

“Wherever You Lead” - with Scott Allan Matthews, is today's music. Click on the picture to listen.

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. ³ And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2-4

I had written it on the board and had been telling the children for 3 weeks prior that the school trip was approaching. We had been doing a count down and now the day was finally here.

‘Ok, off you go to lunch, then after you come back and we take the register, we will go out and get on the bus.’

The first hand went up. ‘Yes, Lucy!’

“Will we be going out for afternoon play?” ‘No Lucy, we be at the theatre.’

The next hand went up. “Will we be going out for afternoon play?”

‘I thought I just answered that question? No we will be at the theatre. Now off you go to dinner.’

As the children lined up for dinner, Josh paused as he was going through the door. “Mr Christie, will we be going out for afternoon play?” This was my first trip I had been on with a year 2 class. I thought that he was winding me up but the expression on his face told me he was serious. ‘No, Josh we will be at the theatre.’ I could hear the tone of my voice getter slightly harsher and I took a deep breath as I counted then out of the classroom. The twins stopped. I knew what was coming. “Mr Christie, why aren’t we having afternoon play, it’s not fair!”

‘Girls we won’t be here, we’ll be at the theatre – now go to lunch as your class had already gone ahead!’

My Teaching assistant caught my eye and sniggered. She could tell I was getting wound up. I shook my head and smiled. Yes I had let it get to me. Why were they asking me the same question? Didn’t they hear the explanation? Weren’t they listening? Then it struck me.

I, no, we do the same thing with God. How many times do we go to him with past guilt, confessed and forgiven sins, broken promises? Yet time and time again he listens, comforts and forgives us. Maybe we all need to be a little more childlike.

Is it just me or do we all need to daily exercise a little more patience with each other? Why not begin today.

Kirk Franklin sings ‘Love.’ Click on the picture to listen.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.  Matthew 28:19-20

NEWS is an acronym the directions north, east, west and south. It is a words that is used so often that I think we often forget that in the true sense of the word, news should come from further afield than our community. As Christians do we sometimes wonder what is happening to fellow Adventists around the world? With the busy modern 20^th century life that we live in the west, it is easy forget that actually we are part of a worldwide movement. The seemingly simple testimony of someone in your local church could have a dramatic effect on someone who needs a word or encouragement elsewhere.

Whilst searching for Adventist news I came across some amazing sites that I thought I would share with you all. Maybe you know these or of others, nevertheless here they are.

http://news.adventist.org/en/all-news/

https://www.ministrymagazine.org/

http://spectrummagazine.org/

http://www.adventistreview.org/

Take a look, be encouraged and share your story with someone today.

Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir sing ‘Thou oh Lord.’ Click on the picture to listen.

February 5-6 - In God we Trust?

“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. ...” - Deuteronomy 28:1-68 ESV

The appeal came from Rev. M.R. Watson. He addressed his letter to the Secretary of the Treasury, dated it November 13, 1861, and made this appeal:

Dear Sir:

You are about to submit your annual report to the Congress respecting the affairs of the national finances. One fact touching our currency has hitherto been seriously overlooked. I mean the recognition of the Almighty God in some form on our coins.

The Reverend went on to request that God’s name be permanently affixed to American currency. Radical request, wouldn’t you agree? That the government remind the populace, via the imprinted message, to trust not in the coin but in the Creator?

Yet, appropriate request, don’t you think? The tendency of the heart is to worship what we make. What better place to place God’s name than on a coin – a coin that is used and handled every day?

The Secretary of the Treasury agreed. He instructed the creation of a God-centered motto. On November 20, 1861, he wrote, “No nation can be strong except in the strength of God.” It took some time. The words endured some tweaking, but in 1864, In God We Trust first appeared on the two-cent coin.

Taken from  http://www.treasury.gov

The next time you look at one of our coins, here, in Britain, consider the words and ask yourself this question, “Do we still?” Do we still trust in God? Do we, as a nation, trust God to protect, provide, guide, and direct us? Can Britain still claim to be a Christian country?

It’s hard to give an unqualified yes. We seem to trust in everything except God: weapons.... education…Parliament....the EU....but God?

Yet, it’s not too late to change. To all nations God gives this promise: “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chron.7:14).

What a promise. The healing of the land begins with the prayers of the people. When we look at what is happening around the world – prophecies fulfilled by the day – time is short - we can't doubt that Jesus will soon be on His way. Do we desire God’s favor and blessing? Then let us pray, because prayer makes the impossible, possible.

Let us join in prayer? Let’s pray daily for each other, our loved ones, ourselves. Let us stand as beacons of light once again. Let us declare, “In God we trust!”

Although the background of this video is of America, listen to the words - “In God We Trust” - (Original music video). Click on the picture to listen

February 4 – On-call

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give hope and a future” - Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

A few months ago, following a few dodgy phone calls and loads of cold-callers, I decided to buy a call-blocker telephone. It's great. All calls are filtered, and no-one gets to speak with me without first being asked their name, then I am asked if I will accept their call before they are put through.

Now, I know the Lord hasn't got a smart phone or the equivalent, but I got to thinking what my reaction would be if one day, I pick up the phone and hear the operator say, “You have a call from Almighty God. To receive the call, press.....” Would I block it? Or would I answer His call? Not an easy answer because just the word call or calling indicates a destination that is unclear, but by saying “Yes,” it means we must move forward in faith.

God's call might intimidate us, but history tells us an important truth. Callings are meant to be obeyed.

Imagine that call - “You Want Me to Do What?! Leave home – give up a good teaching job, go into full-time Christian writing, speaking, and teaching? What would our response be - “I think God wants me to leave my job! I don’t want to do that! I love my job!”....total panic! But perhaps God isn't calling us to do that just YET, only telling us to start thinking about what we CAN do when His time is right, and we are ready. Think of the Bible characters who received God's call but didn't actually begin their work for some years....three for instance - Moses, Samuel, and Jeremiah – called by God before his birth, he worked as God’s prophet for forty years or more, from 627 b.c. to some time after 586 b.c. Four long decades.

Yes, God's call might be intimidating but remember when Paul and his companions arrived at Troas? Doors had closed. Their future was uncertain. A question loomed in their minds: Now what? They needed God's call more than ever - and it came that night! No, Paul's phone didn't ring, but he did hear something – a man in a vision calling “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (Acts 16:9). Why did Paul and his team respond? Because “God was calling us to preach the Good News” (Acts 16:10).

The calling God gave to Paul is the same calling He is giving us – the Great Commission, to “make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19). As I said earlier, You want me to do what?! All the nations? There's no way I can do that! No, we can't, but then we were never meant to do it alone. The Great Commission was given to all of us....with each of us playing a part -God's plan – His calling.

God's plan for our lives will take us in a new, different and exciting direction. In that process we will discover something wonderful: God’s call on our lives can change. After all, Scripture promises:

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21 NIV

Our song today? “Little is Much When God is in It” (LIVE) Click on the picture of Paul and his call to Macedonia to listen.